Matrix for linotype-machines.



No. 674,092. Patented May l4, l90l. 0. MERGENTHALER.

MATRIX FOR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

(Application filed Mar. 9, 1898.)

(No Model.)

mm mm m W m M WW .m m .w M

witmaozwo TN: NOHRIS PETERS 60.. PHO1O-LITHON WMNINGYON.

NTTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTMAR MERGENTHALER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATRIX FOR LINOTYPE-IVIACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,092, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed March 9, 1898.

T0 all whom it nan/y concern:

Be it known that I, OTTMAR MERGEN- THALER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Matrices for Linotype-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to matrices for linotype-machines, and has for its object to provide a matrix having portions locally hardened or tempered.

Matrices of the class to which my improvements relate are shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,531 and No. 436,532, granted to me on September 16, 1890, as well as in a large number of other Letters Patent, showing and describing these matrices as employed in connection with the linotype-machines invented by me. The matrices which I have employed in the linotypc-machiue have been ordinarily composed of brass, steel, or other metal.

In ordinary practice it has been found that the employment of molten type-metal in connection with an assembled line of matrices constantly acting in the same locality on the matrix may have the effect of disintegrating the material of which the matrix is composed. In other instances it has had the effect of roughening the edges of the matrix to such an extent that even although the character itself may not be injured the roughness at the edge of the matrix prevents the proper closing of the face of the mold, thereby causing in the slug or linotype cast therein fins or burs, which deface the appearance of the matter printed from the linotypes. The matrices are necessarily formed with thin walls surrounding the characters therein, and these walls in the soft-metal matrices heretofore used have been often broken in either by accident in the operation of the machine or by the irregular accumulation at the sides of the matrices of the type-metal, which has the effect of crushing in the walls when the line of matrices is assembled and tightly clamped in the machine. These accidents injure the matrices in such manner that when the linotype or slug is cast therefrom it is formed with Serial No. 673.257. (No model.

irregularities, fins, or burs, which deface the appearance of the printed matter.

In order to obviate the objections above detailed, it has been proposed to construct the matrices of a harder material than that which has been generally employed; but the employment of this harder metal throughout the matrix renders their manufacture slow, difficult, and expensive, in view of the many operations to which it is necessary to submit the blanks. I have thereforeidevised the present form of matrix, employing a soft and yet 'tough grade of metal, preferably steel, which may be readily worked and acted upon in the various necessary operations and which I subsequently harden or temper at and about the point where the character is formed and at a point directly opposite the character, in order to prevent the unequal expansion of the matrix which might arise were the local hardening confined to one edge alone.

The accompanying drawing is a perspective view of a matrix provided at both edges with the locally-hardened portions.

As before stated, the matrix A is or may be similar to those shown and described in my Letters Patent referred to and is ordinarily provided with the sustaining-teeth B and the lugs or shoulders E E. These parts, how, ever, have no reference to my present invention. The matrix A is formed with the character O, as usual, and is locally hardened aand about the character C, as indicated at Dt in any suitable manneras, for example, in the case of steel, by heating and then rapidly cooling the portion referred to. It is also 10- cally hardened at the other edge of the matrix,opposite the character, as indicated at D. The object of the provision of the locallyhardened portion D is to counteract the unequal expansion of the matrix which might arise if it were hardened only about the character and to prevent its distortion. In practice I have found that these matrices may be conveniently and cheaply manufactured from a comparatively-soft metal and that the hardening of the matrix about the character strengthens the walls and obviates the objectionable features above mentioned of the soft matrices heretofore used.

It will he understood that the form of matrix shown in the drawing is not essential and that my invention is applicable to any form of matrix suitable for linotype-machines.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is'

Asa new article of manufacture, a linotypematrix having a locally-hardened portion in which the character is situated, and a second 10 locally-hardened portion at the opposite edge of the matrix, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTT. MERGENTHALER. Witnesses:

WALTER H. GUINEY, ARTHUR RAITHEL. 

